In this article

Skype URI API reference

04/27/2018

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In this article

Learn how to use Skype URIs to add Skype functionality to your client applications.

Applies to: Skype

This API reference details the functionality, options, and syntax of each supported Skype URI. Use this reference if you're
interested in creating applications for Windows, Android, and iOS platforms and mobile devices, or creating Skype URI-enabled emails or signature blocks.

Sending instant messages to an individual or establishing a group multi chat.

Start/switch focus to the Skype client

Effect

If the Skype client is not running—starts the Skype client, and switches focus to the Skype main window.

If the Skype client is already running—switches focus to the Skype client.

If the Skype client is already running and has the current focus—no effect; the Skype client retains focus.

If the Skype URI starts the Skype client, focus is set to the Skype client's main window (auto-login is enabled),
or to its sign-in dialog box (auto-login is not enabled). If the Skype client is already running, the focus is set to the
main Skype window, even if a Skype client dialog box, such as the Tools−>Options dialog box, is open.

Syntax

skype:

Example

skype:

Caveats

On iOS, this Skype URI not only switches focus to the Skype client, but also attempts to initiate a call.

Audio calls

By default, initiating a call results in the local Skype client displaying a confirmation dialog before proceeding with the call. In that dialog,
the user can choose to not display the confirmation in future.

If your call specifies multiple participants, the individual identities—Skype Names or phone numbers—must be separated with semicolons; for example:

participant1;participant2;participant3

Audio call—implicit

Effect

Calls other people on Skype, phones, or mobile devices This is an implicit version of the skype:participantList?call
Skype URI. Unlike the explicit version, you cannot supply additional arguments—like video or conference topic —with
the command. So, the implied value of the video argument is false (audio call), and the implied value of the topic
argument is null/none specified.

Syntax

skype:participant1[;participant2;...participant9]

Example: One-to-one dialog

skype:skype.test.user.1

Example: Conference

skype:skype.test.user.1;skype.test.user.2;skype.test.user.3

Caveats

Mobile Skype clients (iOS and Android) do not support initiating/hosting conference calls.

Audio call—explicit

Effect

Calls other people on Skype, phones, or mobile devices This explicit version of the command enables you to
supply additional arguments—like conference topic—with the command.

The conference topic argument (topic) enables you to specify a string for call participants to display as
the conversation topic in place of the Skype Names or phone numbers of the call originator/conference participants.

You must escape certain special characters, such as whitespace. For example, specify:

My Conference Topic

as:

My%20Conference%20Topic

Otherwise, the Skype client will interpret the topic argument value as My, and the following words might
cause any subsequent arguments to be ignored or otherwise misinterpreted.

While your Skype URI can specify video=false to specifically indicate an audio call, common practice is
to simply omit the argument. See Audio call—implicit and Video call.

If a conversation with the same participant or participants already exists, the Skype client or clients open the
existing conversation. If the topic of an existing conversation differs from the one specified by the Skype URI,
the Skype client changes the conversation topic to the new value.

Open/create chat

Effect

Opens the conversation that matches the specified list of participants, or creates a new chat with those participants
if no matching conversation exists. For existing conversations, the specified optional topic argument value replaces
the existing conversation name or names and title string.